The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-03
MADELINE, A FISHER GIRL

its glory. and this fete is the excuse for every
extravaganza.
The fisher and factory girls save up sou by
sou from their earnings to buy costumes for
this great festival, and in every household,
however poor, crepes Ia species OF pancake)
are made.
On this carnival evening the streets pre-
sented such a'crowded appearance that it was
almost impossible to pass through them, and
every kind Of deGuisenlent was to be seen,
from the splendid princely costume to the
tattered one of some jester.
The carnival fell later than usual this year,
and the weather was mild and warm.
A little group of mdsqateS were pushing
their way through the throng, and a stout
girl, dressed up in brilliant and trumpery
tinery, uttered expletlves OF no very refined
kind: she joked with everybody, and &c
cepted kisses with much complacency..
Many turned round to look, and their eyes
fell with admiration upon o tall slight figure,
which seemed to shrink from the bold
chances that tried to pierce the velvet loup
that partially covered her face.
Her costume was the modest. neat one of a
fisher girl. 4 checked shawl was tied round
her shoulders, and her short. striped petit
coat displayed red-stockinged feet in san
handkerchief fastened round it, and the
hair-of which a mass Of little gold-tinted
brown lovelocks escaped on the forehead and
neck-was plated and coiled up close to H.
Her companion, to whose arm she chung,
wore a red cotton domino and a hideous
The fisher girl Was the pretty Madeleine
une pecaeuse de grefeodes-and her Two
cousins, Jean JennequIn and hiS, sister
Caroline. Madeleine had yielded with much
reluctance to the entreaties OF her rela tlves
70 Join them, for her -Hence, Grand Pierre
(thus named on account OF his powerful,
lo,,5.o,,a fHaraa tlef i0~nt.nl afnVa all
others had left few days before for the
fishing in the Northern seas. They would
have been married before his departure, but,
besides the fisher girl being very young,
Pierre's hard toll out there was to bring in
sufficient money to enable them to SCI up en-
MENACE on his return. They were passion
| ately fond of each other, and Madeleine's
whirled i'll her face and the shriil whIstllng
| made her start and vince. All, ii Pierre had
been there, how different she would hive
felt fsa w ana pressed pres esns sgsln at + h1 am s'r0hs afni'
The most powerful reason that induced
her TO come out was the desire to keep her
| cousin Jean, o delicate youth OF about nine.
| teen, from the cabaret; for she knew that,
without her, he would spend his night there,
| though. while she was Oh hie arm, there was
no fear of his wishing to do 30.
She had refused to dress up. but, to pass
| as much unnotlced as possible, had paI on Q
However, the graceful set of the head or
the shoulders, the pretty figure, were muct
noticed.
sibie, being red-haired, freckled and vulgar
Her jealousy and envy of Madeleine were
very great. for she would much hal wished
Pierre for her own Monhae; ana NV vi as a. s 81
angry look came over her face. of
them. He vas dressed as i c%ayafited bacl
velvet and large hat andSfeather. FOR tlfam
words in CaroIinG's ear. and then hi pSSputl
smiled a cruel, triumphant smile.
The crowd became more and more, dens
Land compact. A group o. saasletsSs, dres reese
in the throng, and one of them, seizinI
Madeleine,s supple waist, whirled her rap
idly round, while another took Caroline
whose harah, discordant. voice, screaming
with delight. was heard ringing out throug.
the din and noise.
Madeleine. gave a scream of terror as sh
felt herself lifted off her feet, and when tn
cavalier who had followed them came to 20 th
rescue, see almost tainted in his arms. III
demon, her prosecutor. uttered q little or
of disdain at her weakness. and then went l
: search of holder game. -,
seen. and. dazed and beWiIdered, she wa
thankful to accept the cavaliers arm. 4
she touched it, however, she shrank back, 8
If an instructive feeling of repulslon or {
l coming QALRGF ldC SGtZt4i liC1q ia bAAC- AtG%
minute she reproached herself for her foli1
and was pleased to lean upon her eompanlo
for protection az another group OF Will
D domfRos bore ddNn upon them;
: ttYod had better take something to reyly
: you, y whispered the cavalier under his mas
in a soft. respectful. disguised tone, or yo
will never have the strength TO find yol
: friends. If they ha se. left ] will see .ye
d safely to your house, but you must first tai
f a glass of eau sicTee."
TsYou are very amiable,n she answers
her voice still trembling with the fright 81
: had had, s'bnt | am afraid my cousins wi
: be uneasy. / should like to join then."
'It viii be most difficult to find them
said her companion, land it is impossib
you can walk in FOUR present state or aglt
b ton" z.
n entered q brilliantly lighted cafe. and, CO
n Quoting her to q marble table, offered her
chair with q stately bow.
o Madeleine was pleased to sink down into
Il and when the cool water came 1t seem
O most grateful to her hot lips.
d Her mask in the scuffie had fallen OIL al
a her sof. brown eyes and her brunette's SIX
il and pure profile we're Lit up by the dazzlli
Many stopped to look as they passed, q
to cast o glance of envy at her companion.
d Bold-looking women drinking champag
il stared at her with surprise, ana muttered
d one another, asking who she WAS.
s.He is easy to recognize, - they muttere
nut % petite. is she a giisette deguts6e,
what IN
a Young cavalry officer. much flushed W
wine and excitement, suddenly started up
ig II will find out, y he said.
r He went and shook hands with the ca
s. Her. who appeared much irritated st seei
him.
he asked. do not keep her to yours
III What a 2ott nta71ois "
sA And as he spoke he touched her hs
In ca~ressingiy.
If tone and gesture the false and compronia4
~ position in which she was placed. She
III coiIed with horror from the familiarity
nd the words and touch andthe jeering laugh
IL. the women behind her.
8. She rose hastily with q burning flush on
no SK yohSrin not take me I viii ret
as alone she cried, n rushing out ARR
home painting and GREATNESS.
~ The cavalier, furious at losing her. gave
insoIent reply 10 the young officer and
next instant glass fell with g tremend
ey crash women screamed, and loud an
voices cried out, and the two men had
changed words thai could never be fori
ten. and that were impossible TO be VI
do Drawn.
an The naasque-who was no other than NJ
Merville, q disaiDated Young man and O @
20 seducteaT-insisted pon the Gun OF
TO Masking excuses, but this the latter VIC
ers not do, declaring that a French officer ne
re- asked pardon. The only possible seqneI
the quarrel was q duel. and on the follow
~ morning-Ash Wednssday-when the ri
u people were focking TO c4rreh TO have t
nut foreheads crossed with ashes, the "
met ACROSS the frontier. IN Balgium
The young officer looked pale and hvid.
had slept heavily aome hours Of the Mi
ave then had awakened 10 the frIglItfui, res
afh that he bad most likely compromised al
future BY 2 e Y hght words aaonorov
OF saved enough TO place him at ST. Cyr.
S 6 this was the end OF i'll